Footed carton



Aug. 10, 1965 o v ETAL 3,199,764

FOO'I'ED CARTON Filed Feb. 5, 1964 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTORE AVID L.OLIVER STEPHEN A. HEBETKO ATTORNEY Aug. 10, 1965 FOOTED CARTON FiledFeb. 5, 1964 2 Sheets-Sheet 2- g g 32 as g 4| 3e 42 g 35 3 T. v V as as36 as F IG. 5

DAVID L. OLIVER STEPHEN A. HERBETKO Y Jim #Jwme ATTORNEY D. OQLIVER ETAL3,199,764

United States Patent 3,199,764 FOOTED CARTQN David 1.. Oliver, Palmyra,Ni, and Stephen A. Herhetko, Philadeiphia, Pa, assignors to onneilyContainers, 1nd, Bala-Cynwyd, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania FiledFeb. 5, 1%4, Ser. No. 342,740 13 Claims. (Ci. 22937) The presentinvention relates to a footed carton, and more particularly to a footedcarton having plural feet which are integral in their entirety with themain carton body for supporting the cart-0n above floor or ground level.

In the shipment of relatively heavy goods, it has become conventional toutilize sue-h mechanical lifting equipment as fork lift trucks in orderto lift and transport cartons between storage areas and other places,such as transport vehicles. To accommodate the tines of the fork lifttrucks, ordinary cartons were placed on pallets made of wood or othersuitable material, so that the tines of the work lift truck could enterbetween the foot-like members of the pallets and lift the Pallet withthe carton or cartons thereon. While this practice greatly facilitatedthe handling of cartons and the consequent shipment of merchandise, itbecame necessary to return pallets to their places of origin, thusincreasing both the cost of the operation due to the return trip of thepallets and the administrative difiiculties of always insuring asufiicient supply of pallets, as at a depot.

To avoid the necessity of separate fabrication and handling of pallets,it has been proposed to provide cartons which are palletized; otherwisestated, the cartons have feet connected to them to serve the function ofthe separate pallets mentioned hereinabove.

These latter-mentioned carton-s were characterized by foot-likeapendages which were generally tubular in construction, the hollow tubesrequiring some filler material to sustain them from collapse.Consequently, in the manufacture of these known containers, the blankswere manufactured and separate filler elements were provided with thecarton blanks, when cartons were ordered by a manufacturer from aproducer of the cartons or containers. Thus, it is apparent that withthe known containers providing feet or palletized constructions, it wasnecessary to deliver to the purchaser of the containers separate fillerelements, and it was necessary for the container purchaser to completeassembly of the carton. Thus, he had to staple flaps to provide thetubes, and then insert the filler material in the tubes, this operationbeing necessary where the cartons are shipped in completely blank formto the purchaser thereof. Alternatively, where the stapling of the flapswas done by the cart-on manufacturer in order to provide the tubes orpockets, it was then impossible to ship the containers or cartons incompletely fiat and knocked-down form to the purchaser.

An object of the present invention is to provide a carton including anintegral foot-like structure.

Another object of the present invention is the provision of a footedcarton which is made entirely from a single blank.

A further object of the invention is to provide a carton having a strongfooted or palletized structure integral therewith.

A still further object of the present invention is the provision of acarton fulfilling the above desideratum and also capable of being pickedup by mechanical lifting evices from any side thereof.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a cartonfulfilling the above desideratum and further having feet properlypositioned for adequate support of the carton contents.

3,199,7d4 Fatented Aug. 10, 19555 Another object of the presentinvention is the provision of integral blanks for cartons in accordancewith the above set forth de'sideratum.

Other objects and the nature and advantages of the instant inventionwill be apparent from the following description taken in conjunctionwith the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a blank for a carton in accordance with the presentinvention.

FIGURE 2 is a cross sectional view showing the material used in thecarton of the present invention.

FIGURE 3 is a perspective view showing the erection of a carton from theblank shown in FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 4 is a perspective view showing the carton of FIGURE 3 completelyerected and closed.

FIGURE 5 is a view of a blank in accordance with another embodiment ofthe present invention.

FIGURE 6 is a perspective view showing a carton erected from the blankof FIGURE 5.

FIGURE 7 is a partial view of yet another blank in accordance with thepresent invention.

FIGURE 8 is a perspective view of a carton erected from the blank ofFIGURE 7.

Referring now to the drawings, wherein like or corresponding referencenumerals are used to designate like or corresponding parts throughoutthe several views, there is shown in FIGURE 1 a blank 19 comprising asecuring flap 11, two side wall panels 12 and two end wall panels 13.The side wall panels 12 and end wall panels 14, as the securing flap 11,are placed in serial array in known fashion, and are separated byappropriate fold lines. The side wall panels 12 have top flaps 14hingedly connected to them by appropriate fold lines, and similarly theend wall panels 13 have top flaps 15 connected to them. The top flaps 14and 15 are separated as shown.

Connected to the bottoms of the side wall panels 12 by suitable foldlines are bottom-forming flaps 16.

A pair of platform flaps 17 extend from and are hingedly connected tothe end wall panels 13. The platform flaps 17 are each delineated fromthe end wall panels 13 by a fold line 18 which permits relative foldingbetween panel 13 and flap 17 in one direction, that is, platform flap 17may be folded upwardly toward the viewer. A fold line 19 is provided inthe opposite face of flap 17 from that shown in FIGURE 1, and fold line19 permits folding only in the opposite direction to that permitted byfold line 18, A fold line 20, parallel to fold lines 18 and 19 andspaced more remotely from fold line 18 than is fold line 19, isprovided, and permits folding in the same direction as fold line 18.

In FIGURE 2, there is shown in cross section the material of which theblanks and carton of the present invention is made. This materialcomprising triple-wall paperboard comprising three corrugated or flutedmembers 27 placed between and secured to four planar paperboard members28. This material is characterized by great strength and durability, andhas sufiicient thickness for its intended purpose.

Referring now to FIGURE 3, the blank 19 of FIGURE 1 is shown inpartially erected condition, the side walls 12 and end walls 13,together with the securing flap 11 (not shown) having been formed into atube which may be, as will be understood, of either square orrectangular configuration. The bottom panels 16 have been foldedinwardly, material has been placed within the partially erected cartonand the top flaps 14 have been folded down, and the top flaps 15 are inposition to be folded down over the top flaps 14. Shown in extendedposition for purposes of illustration are the platform flaps 17, whichmay be seen to be in a generally zig-zag configuration resulting fromthe alternate positioning of the fold lines 18, 19 and 20. As a resultof the delineation of the platform flaps 17 by the fold lines 18, 19 and20, there are provided within each of the flaps 17 a first panel 21which is connected with the end walls 13, and which is folded inwardlybeneath the flaps 16, the two panels 21 extending toward each other.There is also provided a second panel 22 which is connected to the panel21 along the edge thereof defined by the fold line lfi, panel 22underlying the panel 21. Similarly, a third panel 23 is provided,connected to the second panel 22 at the fold line 2% and underlying thesecond panel.

In FIGURE 4 the completed carton may be seen, the panels 21, 22 and 23forming feet 25 which extend downwardly from the bottom of the carton.The feet 25 may be secured in position by metal bands 26, which secureand hold in position the top flaps 14 and 15. Other securing means maybe provided for the feet 25. The feet 25 serve to elevate the bottom ofthe carton so that the tines of a fork-lift truck may enter beneath thecarton and lift it.

Where desired, separate filler plates (not shown) of the triple-wallpaperboard material may be used above the bottom flaps to add strengthto the carton.

Referring now to FIGURE 5, there is showna carton blank generallydesignated and comprising end wall panels 32 and side wall panels 33,together with a securing flap 34. The side wall panels 33 have bottomflaps 35 extending therefrom. Extending from each of the end wall panels32 is a flap 41, each of which is hingedly connected to the end panel 32by a fold line 38. Extending from the flap 41 are a pair of spaced flaps36, each of which has fold lines 39 and 40 on alternate sides thereof asnoted above in connection with the fold lines 19 and 29. There arethereby provided a flap 41 and a pair of flaps 42 and 43 whichcorrespond to the panels 21, 22 and 23 shown in FIGURE 3. As will beunderstood the characteristics of fold lines 38, 39 and 40 correspond tothe characteristics of fold lines 18, 19 and 20. However, the fold line39 is placed further from the fold line 38 than the fold line 19 isplaced from the fold line 13. When a carton is assembled from the blankof FIGURE 5, as shown in FIGURE 6, the feet 45 thereof are spaced towardthe interior of the carton, and away from the end walls 32. Thisprovides support for the load within the carton shown in FIGURE 6, andprovides for a relatively short span between the several feet 45. Inaddition, the carton shown in FIGURE 6 may be picked up by a fork lifttruck approaching from an end, as toward the end wall 32, or from aside, as toward a side wall 33. As will be understood, the blank 30 hasbeen shown without top flaps, and the carton is therefore provided withthe separate top 47, although any other top or top closure configurationmay be used, including that shown in the blank of FIGURE 1. The metalbands 46 retain the top 47 on the carton, and also hold the feet 45.

Referring now to FIGURE 7, there is shown a'blank 5-9, with parts cutaway, blank 59 comprising an end wall panel 52 and a side wall panel 53,the side wall panel 53 having a bottom panel 55 connected to it.Extending from the end wall panel 52 is a flap generally designated 56which extends almost the full width of panel 52 and comprises, inseries, a first panel 61 hingedly connected to end wall panel 52 by afold line 58, a fold line 59, an auxiliary panel 59', a score line 59",panel 62, score line 69 and panel 63. Score lines 59' and 59 are spacedapart a distance substantially equal to the thickness of the material ofthe blank. The fold lines of flap 56 are not in the alternaterelationship of the fold lines 18, 19 and 29 of the blank 10 of FIGURE1, but are all on the same side. That is, the two spaced score lines 50'and 59", and the score line 69, which is a cutscore, are all on the sameside, and opposite score 58.

When a carton is erected from the blank 50, it has the appearance shownin FIGURE 8, wherein there may be seen the two large feet 65 formed fromthe panels 62 and 63, which are in a coiled configuration, i.e.,auxiliary panel 59' extends vertically and panel 63 lies between panels61 and 62. The carton of FIGURE 8 provides a strong and sturdy footstructure appropriately arranged beneath the load within the carton tosustain it and prevent damage or destruction of the carton from the loadwithin it. The carton of FIGURE 8 may be utilized where relatively heavyloads are to be contained within the carton.

As will be understood, a purchaser of cartons will have delivered to ita single unitary blank as set forth herein, which blank may be shippedin an absolutely flat condition. No extra materials or fillers arerequired to be supplied to the purchaser of the carton. The erection ofa carton is extremely simple and may be accomplished with readilyavailable equipment, such as that usually found in the plants ofpurchasers of carton blanks. The feet of the cartons herein disclosedare formed from integral parts of the carton blank, and elevate thecarton bottoms sufficiently above ground or floor level to permit entryof the tines of standard fork lift trucks, due to the triple-wallpaperboard construction of which the cartons are made.

While the feet of the cartons herein disclosed are sufficiently strongand properly placed in order to support relatively heavy loads containedwithin the cartons, these feet are so constructed that the tines of forklift trucks may be inserted beneath the carton from either the ends orsides thereof, in connection with the cartons shown in FIGURE 6.Although the feet of the several cartons herein disclosed have beenshown to be of three thicknesses, obtained by zig-zag folding of thefiaps from which they are made, or by the continuous folding as in thecase of FIGURE 8, the number of panels of which the feet are made may beeither more or less, depending upon the thickness of the material usedand the dimensions of the lifting implements, such as fork lift trucktines.

It will be obvious to those skilled in the art that various changes maybe made without departing from the spirit of the invention and thereforethe invention is not limited to what is shown in the drawings anddescribed in the specification but only as indicated in the appendedclaims.

What is claimed is:

1. A blank for a carton comprising at least four wall panels in serialarray separated by fold lines, a pair of :bottom flaps each hingedlyconnected to a said wall panel by a fold line, a pair of platform flapmeans alternating with said bottom flaps and each extending from a saidwall panel and being delineated therefrom by a first fold linepermitting folding of the platform flap means in a first direction, eachsaid platform means having second and third fold lines therein parallelto and spaced from said first fold line and from each other, said thirdfold line being more remote from said first-mentioned fold line thansaid second fold line and permitting fold-ing in said first direction,and said second fold line permitting folding only in a directionopposite to said first direction, said flap means each comprising a pairof spaced flaps.

2 A blank as set forth in claim 1, said blank being made of triple-wallcorrugated paperboard.

3. A blank for a carton comprising at least four Wall panels in serialarray separated by fold lines, a pair of :bottom flapshingedly-connected to a said wall panel by a fold line, a pair ofplatform flaps alternating with said bottom flaps, each said platformflap comprising, in order, a first panel adjacent the said wall panel, ascore line permitting folding in the direction opposite that permittedby the fold line connecting the said platform flap to the wall panel, anauxiliary panel of width substantially equal to the thickness of thematerial of the blank, a second fold line, a second panel, a scorepermitting folding in the same direction as said last mentioned scoreline, and a third panel.

4. The blank of claim 3, said blank being made of triple-wallpaperboard, said last mentioned score being a cut score.

5. A carton comprising walls, a pair of flaps integral with two of saidwalls and folded inwardly toward each other to form a bottom, a pair offirst panel means each connected to another said wall and each extendingbeneath said bottom-forming fiaps toward each other, a pair of secondpanel means each connected to a said first panel means along an edgethereof remote from the wall to which said first panel means isconnected and underlying the first panel means to which it is connected,and a pair of third panel means each connected to a said second panelmeans opposite the connection of the second panel means with the firstpanel means and each underlying the second panel means to which it isconnected.

6. A carton as set forth in claim 5, said first, second and third panelmeans being of substantially the same width as the wall to which saidfirst panel means is connected.

7. A carton as set forth in claim 5, at least one of said first, secondand third panel means forming a pair of spaced feet to thereby permitentry of the tines of a fork lift truck therebetween.

8. A carton comprising side and end walls, a pair of flaps integral withthe side walls and folded inwardly toward each other to form a bottom, apair of first panels each connected to an end wall and each extendingbeneath said bottom-forming flaps toward each other, each said panelhaving connected to it, in series, a downwardly extending auxiliarypanel of thickness substantially equal to the thickness of the materialof said canton, a second panel underlying and spaced from said firstpanel, and a third panel between said first and second panels.

9. A carton as set forth in claim 5, said car-ton being of triple-wallcorrugated paperboard.

10. A carton as set forth in claim 5, said first panel means beinglonger than said second and third panel means whereby said spaced feetare spaced toward the interior of the carton.

11. A carton as set forth in claim 7, said first panel means each beingsubstantially the same width as the wall to which it is connected andsaid second and third panel means each comprising a pair of spacedpanels.

12. A car-ton as set forth in claim 8, said carton being of triple-wallcorrugated paperboard.

13. A carton as set forth in claim 8, said first panel being longer thansaid second and third panels whereby said second and third panels arespaced toward the interior of the carton.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,906,964 5/33Hill 22937 2,142,142 1/39 Newsom 2296 X 2,494,730 1/50 Thursby 2066O2,596,224 5/52 Eaton et al 22937 2,729,383 1/56 King 2296 2,759,523 8/56Golds-tein et al 2296 X 3,036,752 5/ 62 Elliott 22914 JOSEPH R. LEOLAIR,Primary Examiner.

FRANKLIN T. GARRETT, Examiner.

1. A BLANK FOR A CARTON COMPRISING AT LEAST FOUR WALL PANELS IN SERIAL ARRAY SEPARATED BY AT LEAST FOUR WALL PANEL BOTTOM FLAPS EACH HINGEDLY CONNECTED TO A SAID WALL PANEL BY A FOLD LINE, A PAIR OF PLATFORM FLAP MEANS ALTERNATING WITH SAID BOTTOM FLAPS AND EACH EXTENDING FROM A SAID WALL PANEL AND BEING DELINEATED THEREFORM BY A FIRST FOLD LINE PERMITTING FOLDING OF THE PLATFORM FLAP MEANS IN A FIRST DIRECTION, EACH SAID PLATFORM MEANS HAVING SECOND AND THIRD FOLD LINES THEREIN PARALLEL TO AND SPACED FROM SAID FIRST FOLD LINE AND FROM EACH OTHER, SAID THIRED FOLD LINE BEING MORE REMOTE FROM SAID FIRE-MENTIONED FOLD LINE THAN SAID SECON FORLD LINE AND PERMITTING FOLDING IN SAID FIRST DIRECTION, AND SIAD SECOND FOLD LINE PERMITTING FOLDING ONLY IN DIRECTION OPPOSITE TO SAID FIRST DIRECTION, AND FLAP MEANS EACH COMPRISING A PAIR OF SPACED FLAPS. 